Special Olympics athlete appearing on CTV’s The Listener Monday night

Kevin James

Director Don McCutcheon rehearses with Special Olympics athlete Kevin James on the set of The Listener in Toronto on March 11. The episode airs Monday, July 21 at 9 p.m.

Kevin James

photo courtesy of CTV

From left: Actors Rayisa Kondracki (Emma) and Ennis Esmer (Oz Bey) with
Special Olympics athlete Kevin James on the set of The Listener in Toronto on March 11. The episode airs Monday, July 21 at 9 p.m.

When Kevin James heard about the chance to try his hand at acting, he jumped at the opportunity.

The Special Olympics Oakville SkyWalkers basketball player and Burlington resident was among two dozen Special Olympics athletes across Canada who submitted an audition tape earlier this year, and was one of the lucky few to receive a speaking role.

James, 33, will be appearing on the July 21 episode of Canadian science fiction drama The Listener, which airs on CTV at 9 p.m. He’ll be playing a Special Olympics athlete who plays on a basketball team.

While the role isn’t a far stretch from what he does in his spare time, James, who has played basketball with the Oakville SkyWalkers for the last 10 seasons and also plays softball with the Oakville Sluggers, said it was a great opportunity.

“It was very fun, everyone was nice and it was a really nice cast and nice director,” he said. “It was a good experience. I hope they ask me back for the next season.”

His mother, Terry James, said their family wasn’t at all surprised to hear he had landed the acting gig.

“Kevin is a very social, able young man,” she said, noting how her son has always loved pretending and acting, especially while growing up, but never had the opportunity to show that side of him.

Terry added their family is extremely proud of what he’s been able to accomplish.

“He really works hard,” she said, noting how he puts his all into everything he does. “If something more comes out of this experience, Kevin would be right in his element.”

James also filmed a public service announcement, which will air during a commercial break on Monday’s episode of the The Listener.

Special Olympics CEO Sharon Bollenbach said James was the right fit for the role because of his ability to convey the impact that the Special Olympics has had on his and his family’s life.

“He’s very passionate about his involvement with the Special Olympics,” she said.

“I think that’s something that’s so important for us as a movement,” Bollenbach continued. “While we’re about delivering quality sport opportunities for athletes with an intellectual disability, that transformative power of sport goes well beyond the field of play and I think Kevin’s involvement in this episode of The Listener is an amazing example of that.”

Bollenbach added she hopes people will watch the episode and see more of an “inclusive society.”

“Sports are very powerful and, for us and for our athletes in the Special Olympics, it’s about healthier lifestyle, it’s about learning sports skills and being able to compete and be active in sport,” she said. “It’s also about instilling confidence and building self-esteem. What we hope the show represents and highlights is our athletes’ ability, both on field as well as off.”